For the more than 80 countries that are signatories to the 1965 Hague Service Convention, we prepare and submit formal requests to the destination country's designated Central Authority, handling certified translations, applicable fees, and tracking through to an official Article 6 Certificate of Service.
When a defendant is located in a country that hasn't joined the Hague Convention, we prepare formal Letters Rogatory for transmission through the U.S. State Department and the destination country's judiciary or foreign ministry — the diplomatic channel required for service in these jurisdictions.
In countries that permit it, we coordinate direct private-agent service, which can be significantly faster than the formal treaty channels. We also support motions for court-ordered alternative service under FRCP Rule 4(f)(3) when conventional methods are impractical.
Every completed assignment concludes with documentation built to withstand evidentiary challenge — an official Central Authority certificate where applicable, or a sworn affidavit executed before a notary public or Commissioner for Oaths for private and informal service.
Common Questions
It depends entirely on whether the destination country is a Hague Service Convention signatory. We evaluate this for every matter before recommending a strategy, since using the wrong method can result in a case being dismissed or a judgment being unenforceable.
Efficient Hague jurisdictions often complete in two to four months. Non-Hague countries requiring Letters Rogatory can take six months to over a year, depending on the country and current diplomatic conditions.
Most non-English-speaking countries require certified translation of the documents to be served. We handle this as part of the filing process wherever it applies.
Yes. We regularly serve foreign corporations, registered agents, and business entities, coordinating with the applicable country's corporate registry and service rules.